Running a small business can be incredibly rewarding, but let’s be honest: it can also be tough. And when it’s tough, it’s stressful. I know this from my own lived experience, and I know it from a decade of networking and talking to fellow business owners.

Many small business owners and marketing professionals today find themselves caught in a cycle of endless social media activity. They focus heavily on 'likes' and 'shares' while shying away from the one thing that actually keeps a business alive: Sales.

'Strategic planning' and 'human interaction' are two phrases that I believe will become the defining buzzwords of 2026 in the small business sector. We live in a world that has, in many respects, become way too digital. You only have to look at the UK High Street to see the impact.

If you are a small business owner, you will be very aware that there has been a lot of change in marketing, the digital sector, and social media over the past year. This is why I think it’s more important than ever that small business owners think about strategic selling If you want to see success going forward, sales planning is not just an option—it’s vital.